SMART PASTELS RING IN SPRING
Mix modern and eclectic, with a dash of Marsala
Spring is a favourite transitional time for lovers of home decor. There’s the prospect of perhaps replacing some old, shabby furnishings with fresh new pieces.
Spring is when we see decor trends that will find their way home through summer and fall.
For 2015, these trends include a firm embrace of mid-century modern; emerging Art Deco; strong textures; organic modern (a blend of rustic and contemporary); and, a colour palette centred on sophisticated pastels.
Motifs from the Far East, Morocco and India remain strong, but now there are more Greek and South American elements, including Hellenic patterns, blues paired with crisp whites, native motifs, and colourful, woven textiles and baskets.
Ikat and chevron, workhorse prints for the past few years, are being edged aside by medallion and tile patterns, bold preppy stripes, and new twists on damask, geometrics, colour block and watercolour prints.
Kate Spade has collaborated on a new collection with West Elm, for instance, that includes chairs and bedding in fun, sophisticated graphics, florals and spatter prints.
The other news is that designers are mixing things up, so an antique Bentwood chair can be paired with a glossy red desk, for instance, or a rustic flat-weave rug can sit in front of a 19th-century marble mantel, or a farmhouse table can be placed under an ornate glass chandelier.
“Design pros have always known it’s the combination of finishes that give a room style — it takes the sleek with the matte; textured with flat; and, a mix of painted, wood, ceramic and metallic finishes for a room to look ‘done,”’ says Elaine Griffin, a New York-based designer.
Now, thanks to home design TV shows and social media, we’re all becoming knowledgeable decorators.
Mass-market retailers aren’t only offering more products that straddle styles, they’re doing a better job of showing us how to use them. In-store displays and free design advice help shoppers envision how pieces can work at home.
Feeling confident and inspired? Let’s see what spring’s got in store.
FURNITURE STYLES
Griffin sees mid-century modern becoming even more entrenched in the decor landscape. The pieces are comfier than the originals because of modern construction methods and materials.
West Elm’s Peggy collection of trim, tailored sofas and loveseats feature nubby cayenne or pebble-grey upholstery tucked under slim, pecan-stained legs. The Crosby collection puts a tufted cushion on a trimmed-down wingback that’s especially smart in armchair and sectional versions.
Urban Outfitters’ Sterling sofa and Dagmar chair fit the vibe, as does the Draper media cabinet, which resembles a retro hi-fi console.
Griffin says Art Deco will emerge this year.
“We’re seeing its first wave in the new linear, jazz-inspired graphics and block prints,” she says.
The sophisticated style has legs in both traditional and contemporary decor. There are many ways to incorporate it.
Ethan Allen has the Shelton sofa with high, curvy arms, the Atwood chair with two swooping sides, and a chic little nickel-plated side table.
Urban Outfitters has a vintagestyle velvet chaise and fainting couch in of-the-moment hues.
COLOUR AND TEXTURE
A heady blend of plum, wine and burgundy, Marsala is Pantone’s colour of the year.
Overstock’s Presley throw pillow comes in a striking deep-redand-white houndstooth print. The Calantha wall mirror features a lacquered frame carved in a floral design. And Safavieh’s Palmer ottoman pairs cream- and- red, windowpane-printed cotton with nickel rivets for a versatile little bench.
Look for colour used in dramatic ways: a navy lacquered cabinet (at CB2), or a glossy burgundy vanity (Hastings Tile & Bath’s Made collection).
Black is back, in a sexy bow front chest at Wisteria, on walls (Noir is Pratt & Lambert’s colour of the year) and in Pottery Barn’s new Stinson bedroom furniture.
Griffin predicts kitchens with a lot of black — mixed with lighter woods or white — will be hot. Lighter woods reflect both mid-century and farmhouse modern esthetics; look for light oak and pine, maple, walnut, acorn and beech.
Sophisticated pastels grace textiles, case goods and even lamps, with mint green and blush pink being the dominant colours.
Wisteria has a collection of sleek, contemporary, seafoam green acrylic desks.
Textured linens, silks and cottons in colourful embroidered prints, embossed fabrics, leathers and luxe velvets will grace drapery, upholstery and rugs.
At the modern end of things, powder-coated metal is showing up in pastels and bright colours, in fun wire lounge chairs at Land of Nod and file cabinets at CB2.
Bernhardt’s new collection includes a brass-clad dresser and several gold or silver side tables and benches — elegant jewelry for a room.